On Mon, 12 Feb 2001 10:09:29 -0800 Dan Taylor <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
writes:
.
>
> I'm looking to hear from folks that are kicking around a few ideas
> for
> their own d20 products. But like myself, have been following the
> various
> posts the last few months and have realized that they may just be
> out of
> their league when it comes to publishing their own d20 products.
No offense but listening to insecure, inexperienced, ignorant and/or
careless people is hardly going to improve your chances of producing
something. : )
>
> If you're like myself, with a head full of ideas and volumes of
> notes, but
> have decided that self-publishing just isn't in your future, let's
> talk.
> Let's face it, it ain't easy.
Same comment as above. Regardless of how you do it either you or
someone in your group is eventually going to have to know what they are
doing. I realize you might think that if you gather a bunch of people
who don't know what they are doing, that by default, you will manage to
cover all the lapses in experience. It doesn't work like that, IMO. Why
go through all of that grief when you can just educate yourself (and be
on your way) or team up with someone who already has experience.
Whatever you do, choose your partners carefully.
>
> Perhaps those of us that wish to create d20 products can work
> together to
> expand and improve or individual ideas into complete products and
> then
> convince those that have succeeded in publishing their own d20
> products to
> consider publishing our offerings.
You could do that by yourself... right now. Why wait? This list gets
submission notices at least once a week.
>
> I feel that there have to be others like myself that would rather
> concentrate on creating a solid d20 product than hassle with our own
> start-up company to publish said product. Who wants to hassle with
> lawyers
> and accountants when all we want to do is create games?
If you just want to write, then there is already plenty of room for you
to do so. Dungeon Magazine and Necromancer Games are currently taking
d20 submissions, for example.... and I know there are more.
Additionally, off the top of my head I can think of three on-line
projects that would happily take your submissions and publish them on
their web sites. But I don't think you need to create the "Union of d20
Writers" to pursue your dreams. (yikes! a Union!)
Let's help each other
> create
> some really great d20 material that these successful publishers will
> fight
> over. (We can hope, right?)
>
> Did any of the above make any since, or am I just talking the crazy
> talk?
I know it seems like a good idea to gather a bunch of random people and
try to create something (believe me I know). Sometimes it is. But you
clearly plan on crossing over to the professional side of things. Think
about these things: What will you do if you one of the people in your
project disappears or pulls out all of their contributions? What will
you do if there is a dispute over the ownership of a potential trademark?
What will you do if you publish your stuff on the web and someone
decides to sue you... a conservative parent, a past participant? What
if you make money?
My friend, it goes on and on. I have made more mistakes in the
development of group projects than I care to remember. I strongly
recommend that you either write by yourself, take the time to form a
local group you trust, join an established group project, or take the
time to jump through a few legal hoops before you start your own.
Regards,
Maggie
